Tonight I installed a
plug and play remote start unit in my KK that works with my factory key fob. Pressing the lock button three times will start the Jeep, and pressing three times again while it's running will shut it off. It will rock to be able to start my Jeep from my kitchen and warm it up when it is freezing cold out this winter!
Here are the details of the remote starter and the installation instructions.
The unit is called the
Fortin EVO-CHRT5. It is a stand-alone remote start unit, but the device can also be incorporated as a component of more advanced alarm and remote start systems sold by various companies. It can also be bundled with a separate fob for longer range, but I am happy just using my key. Since I don't need any of the fancy features, I bought just the EVO in its simplest configuration. You can find out more about the different models on Fortin's website:
http://fortin.ca.
I got the idea to get the EVO remote starter from this thread here on LOST:
http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=88&t=80807Here is the link I used to purchase the EVO-CHRT5 on Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BMWS5HK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1Several companies sell the EVO on Amazon for less than $99, but Car Alarm Depot will pre-program the firmware for your KK so you don't have to buy the additional $60 harness/cradle to hook it up to your computer. The cradle is PC-only and I have a Mac, so pre-programming was worth the difference in cost to me. All you have to do is to contact Car Alarm Depot from your order page on Amazon after purchasing the device, and tell them the year, make and model of your Jeep, and it will be ready to install right out of the box.
The installation instruction booklet that comes with the EVO is worth studying, to make sure you know how the wires connect and which configuration to use. For a stand-alone installation on a 2008-2012 KK, use the diagram labeled letter "C". (Verify this with yours in case anything has changed.) However, the literature is not very user-friendly for step by step installation instructions in the Jeep. Luckily You-Tube has a terrific KK-specific how-to video! Here are my notes from doing the install myself:
1. Prepare the wire harnessesThe EVO comes with two fairly complex wire harnesses. There are a pair of wires on each harness that must be connected together manually. I stripped and soldered them to make sure I had good connections, then covered the connections with black electrical tape to prevent short circuiting. The wires I connected together were A) The yellow wire to the yellow wire, and B) The purple wire to the red & green wire. You'll have a mess of other wires on the white wire harness that won't connect to anything because they are for more complicated alarm and remote start features that you don't have. No worries. Just wrap them up neatly and secure them with a twist tie. The wires you need to join are in your instruction manual, so be sure to check it in case the wire colors have changed since this writing.
2. Install in the JeepA. You'll first need to remove the drivers side kick panel by pulling down on it from under the steering wheel. It is held on by metal clips that will let go with enough force. The kick panel will fold down like the glove box, and then you can slide it to the left to remove it.
B. Next, remove the lower plastic trim from the steering column. There are three torx screws holding that on from underneath. Once the screws are removed, pull down on it and it should un-snap from the upper plastic trim. Put that aside too.
C. Everything from here on out is detailed in this great KK-specific You-Tube video. Watch it several times before continuing so you know what you're doing before installing the EVO. The video is so good, I don't need any pictures in this thread.
Link:
http://youtu.be/yRfAKO8npIQD. Locate the rectangular electronic immobilizer next to the ignition lock cylinder. You will need to remove the wire harness from the front of it. The wire harness has a tab on the steering column side that must be pushed down in order to pull out the pigtail from the immobilizer. This is tricky and took some time. Don't break this, or I imagine you'd be screwed.
E. Connect the two large black connectors on the EVO's big wire harness to the wire pigtail you just disconnected and to the immobilizer.
F. Make sure nothing is hooked up to the EVO unit yet. While holding down the button on the EVO, connect the black 4-pin connector to the EVO first. The light will turn blue, and as soon as it does, release the button. The light should stay blue. If it turns red, you waited too long. Just disconnect everything from the EVO and start this step over.
G. Plug the rest of the connectors from both wire harnesses into the EVO. You will have a couple of unused connectors left over. Again, these a for more expensive systems that you don't have, so no worries. You wanted a $99 remore start, remember?
Each connection is a unique shape and color, so there is no danger of doing it wrong.
H) Next, put the key in the ignition and turn it to RUN, but don't start the Jeep. The blue light on the EVO will flash rapidly. At this point, turn the Jeep off and take out the key.
I) Press the LOCK button once on your key fob. The blue light on the EVO will go out, and the device is now programmed to your KK.
3. Test the remote starterPress the LOCK button three times and the Jeep should start up! Press LOCK again three times and it will turn off.
4. Button everything back upA) I secured the EVO using a cable tie to the right side of the under-dash compartment, through a hole in a black plastic piece adjacent to the center console. You can secure yours wherever you like, but make sure it doesn't get in the way of the steering gears, any of your foot pedals, or pull on the wires when the steering wheel is adjusted up or down.
B) When you put the plastic trim back on to the bottom of the steering column, make sure your wire harness that goes into the immobilizer is not in the way. On my first try, I put the harness under the immobilizer. This did not work well, because the lock cylinder would not turn easily after the lower trim was reinstalled. I had better luck tucking the wire harness up beside the immobilizer. There was enough room there so the plastic trim wasn't being pushed up against the lock cylinder, interfering with the way it needs to turn and/or telescope in and out. You may have to experiment with different wire harness positions, installing the plastic trim and then trying to start the Jeep with the physical key, turn it off, and remove the key to verify it operates smoothly.
C) Reinstall the kick panel and you are done!
5. Next time it snows, warm up your Jeep from indoors! I will make sure to leave my Jeep on defrost mode, cranked up to max heat, with the windshield wipers off when I park it. If you leave your wipers on, and later start up your Jeep after they have frozen to the windshield, you can burn out your wiper motor or damage the windshield wipers.
The whole installation process took me about an hour, including soldering the connections, figuring out how to remove the OEM wire harness from the immobilizer, and how to position the EVO's harnesses best to reinstall the steering column cover. The professional in the You-Tube video said it could be done in 15 minutes. I suppose that is true if you've done it before! Maybe this write-up will help it go more quickly for you. Let me know if you have any questions and I'd be glad to help.
All in all, I am very happy with the Fortin EVO-CHRT5 unit, and it really is plug and play for the DIY-er!
Cheers and happy
,
lfhoward